4 T. vegan buttery spread, divided into 3 T. and 1 T.

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 c. California Sweetpotatoes, peeled and diced into small pieces

1 cup arborio rice

1/2 cup dry white wine

3/4 cup frozen green peas

1 t. sea salt

1/4 t. pepper

1/2 t. garlic salt

For the garlic breadcrumbs:

2 slices gluten free bread, dried out and crumbled

1/2 T. olive oil

1 T. vegan buttery spread

1/2 t. garlic salt

Method:

Pour broth into medium sized saucepan and warm over low heat. Melt 3 T. of buttery spread in a large pot. Add onion, garlic and sweetpotatoes. Cook over medium heat until onion is soft and translucent.

Add rice to the pot with the vegetables. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the wine. Stir constantly until the wine has been absorbed by the rice. Add about one cup of broth, so that the rice is almost covered. Cook over medium heat, letting the rice absorb the broth. Continue cooking and stirring rice, adding a little more broth at a time, stirring until it is absorbed. Do not add more broth until the rice absorbs the liquid in the pot. Keep stirring. (You will need some muscles, all that stirring is tiring! Lucky for me, Darryl was happy to help stir). Keep up this process until the rice is soft and has soaked up all the broth. The risotto should look very thick and creamy.

In the last few minutes of cooking, add the peas, the tablespoon of buttery spread, and the seasonings. The risotto should be nice and creamy, and the peas should stay fresh and green looking. Make sure the sweetpotatoes are tender, too!

To make garlic breadcrumbs:Heat the olive oil and buttery spread in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and garlic salt and heat, letting the breadcrumbs get crisp and golden brown. Don’t walk away! They will burn if you don’t keep an eye on them. They crisp up quickly, after about five minutes.

Spoon your risotto into bowls and top with the garlicky breadcrumbs! Enjoy!

The California Sweetpotato Council is a voluntary membership organization founded in 1977. Our main objective is to develop policies and programs that enhance the sweetpotato industry in California. For more information contact us.